Direction signal



April 3, 1928.

A. FEHRMANN DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed July 5, 1927 INVENKTDR.

. llllllllllllllllili ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

DIRECTION SIGNAL.

Application filed .Tuly 5, 1927, Serial No.

This invention is directed to an improvement in direction signals particularly for automobiles and like vehicles wherein the signal normally housed within the normal width of the vehicle is selectively projected beyond the vehicle in the direction in which the vehicle is to turn to thereby indicate such contemplated action.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a housing mounted on the vehicle lengthwise the Windshield in which housing there is mounted a signal member adapted to be selectively projected in either direction beyond the end of the housing to indicate by such projection that the vehicle is contemplating a turn in that direction.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means by which the signal may be operated at will and also of means by which the signal may be illuminated while in its signal indicating position.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of the improved signal.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View in elevation of a portion of the signal bar, the operating means being shown in dotted lines.

Figure l1 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating particularly the circuiting means for energizing the signal illuminators when the signal reaches a particular signaling position.

The improved signal device comprises a hollow elongated casing l which is preferably applied to the inside of the Windshield at the lower edge of the latter and is of a width practically commensurate with the width of the windshield. Guided for longitudinal movement in the casing is what may be termed a signal arm 2 also preferably of hollow construction which is enlarged at its central portion for a guiding t in the casing and is of reduced dimensions in both directions beyond the central portion and terminally enlarged to form a signal casing, the front and rear Walls of which may, if desired, be of appropriately colored transparent material.

The signal is operated selectively through the medium of a drum 3 on which is wound a cable 4, this cable passing in both directions from the drum and around guide member.

203,580,fand in Germany October l, 1926.

rollers 5 arranged in the housing 1 with the terminals of the cable connected to a fixture 7 carried by and preferably arranged within the signal arm 2. By operating the drum, the signal arm may obviously be projected in either direction to thereby project a portion of such arm beyond the casing to display a signal laterally of the vehicle on that side of the vehicle toward which the vehicle is to be turned.

The signal .is operated through the medium of a gear'23 meshing with a gear 25 on the hub of the drum Band cooperating with an internal gear rack 24 provided on a iiange extending inwardly from a casing 27 secured to the casing 1. The gear 28 is carried on an arm 21 radiating -from a hub mounted in the casing 27 and operated by a handle 20 secured on said hub. The casing 27 has a iiange notched at appropriate points to cooperate with a projection 26 on the handle 20, whereby the signal may be held in inoperative or operative position at will.

Each signal terminal of the provided with a source of illumination as 10 from which a conductor leads to a yblock 8 carried by and projecting beyond the signal arm, the block being insulated from the arm but otherwise forming a Contact The bottom of the casing 1 is formed with an opening to permit the passage therethrough of wires 16 and 17 which are appropriately insulated at 18 from the casing and which within the casing lead in opposite directions to contact blocks 14 carried by and insulated from the casing wall.

signal arm is The respective blocks 14. are so arranged that as the signal arm reaches a signaling position in either direction, the lamp therein will be energized to direct attention to the signal, particularly at night. The other side of the lamp is connected through a conductor 19 to the signal lamp and the latter is grounded to the metal part of the vehicle as is usual in automobile circuiting.

Through obvious and convenient manipulation of the handle 20, the signal may be projected in either direction beyond the vehicle for signaling purposes, the signal being illuminated at will when reaching the signaling position in the automatic manner described, provided of course a switch, which may control the signal illumination alnd fpeed not be shown and described, is c ose Vliatl` claim to be new is:`

A direction signal, including* ai hollen' `redtengulflr main casing, a hollow signal arm slidable in Said casing, a drum casing oiset relative to the main easing, one Wall of the drum easing forming part of thefmzrin casing, a oord drum mounted 1n the drum Casing, guide' lles'rlounted" in" the 

